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ZipVitals

ZIP code

52171

in Jackson Junction, IowaPopulation 1,314

52.89/ 100

Ranked #12,253 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 38%)

Ranked #423 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 46%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

What defines this ZIP

Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.

Child-care access

1.1 per 1,000 residents

in the top 1.9% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST96th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The number of child day-care services inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.

Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a community health center

30.2 mi

in the top 4.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US96th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.

Full methodology ›

Radon

3.3 pCi/L

in the top 7.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST42nd
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.

Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.

Full methodology ›

Binge drinking

20.4%

in the top 4.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST67th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.

Full methodology ›

Poverty rate

0.76%

in the bottom 5.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST4th
US5th
Definition & source ›

The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Full methodology ›

Recreation access

1.1 per 1,000 residents

in the top 7.5% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST89th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.

Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a nursing home

7.2 mi

in the top 20% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST92nd
US80th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.

Full methodology ›

Slow internet speeds

0.45%

in the top 22% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US78th
Definition & source ›

The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

20 per million

in the bottom 25% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US25th
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.

Full methodology ›

Humid extreme heat

28.9 days/year

in the bottom 27% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST4th
US27th
Definition & source ›

The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.

Full methodology ›

The read

On balance, and by the composite measure, Jackson Junction, Iowa (ZIP 52171) ranks in the top 38% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,253rd) and the top 46% of Iowa (423rd).

continue reading

Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: childcare lies in the top 1.9% nationally, and poverty resides in the bottom 5.1% nationally. Recreation lands in the top 7.5% nationally, and modeled transportation noise registers in the bottom 11.7% nationally. Crowded housing sits at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Against that, distance to a community health center rests in the top 4.0% nationally, modeled radon is in the top 7.0% nationally, and modeled binge drinking stands in the top 4.8% nationally. Modeled energy burden settles in the top 11.5% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lies at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.

In plainer terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 50630, just across the boundary.

What’s driving this score

Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 81%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 82%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 65%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 48%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 40%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 58%

14%

Disability

healthier than 60%

7%

Holding it back

Risk Behavior

healthier than 34%

11%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 3%

5%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 83%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 70%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 82%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 79%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 46%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 48%

16%

Disability

healthier than 49%

7%

Holding it back

Risk Behavior

healthier than 39%

11%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 8%

5%

“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›

Nearby & similar ZIPs

Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.

How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured

Evidence

Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.

Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults30.3%27.7–33.0
High blood pressure among adults38.6%35.4–41.8
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.6%9.8–11.4
Current asthma among adults9.7%8.8–10.7
Coronary heart disease among adults8.0%7.2–8.7
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults7.9%7.1–8.8
Depression among adults19.3%16.9–21.7
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.4%11.1–13.9
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened38.3%35.0–41.5
Obesity among adults38.1%32.7–43.5
Stroke among adults3.9%3.6–4.2
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years11.1%9.4–12.9
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years6.3%5.3–7.3
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure80.3%78.0–82.3
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults79.3%76.6–81.8
Cholesterol screening among adults86.5%84.9–87.8
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years69.9%66.2–73.3
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults68.1%65.3–70.7
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years78.6%73.0–83.3
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults20.4%17.9–23.1
Current cigarette smoking among adults16.0%14.1–18.1
No leisure-time physical activity among adults27.0%23.6–30.6
Short sleep duration among adults31.4%26.8–35.9
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults18.6%16.6–20.7
Frequent mental distress among adults15.5%14.0–17.1
Frequent physical distress among adults13.8%12.5–15.3
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults13.1%11.8–14.5
Any disability among adults29.2%26.2–32.5
Hearing disability among adults9.0%8.2–9.9
Independent living disability among adults7.5%6.8–8.3
Mobility disability among adults14.4%12.8–16.1
Self-care disability among adults3.7%3.3–4.0
Vision disability among adults4.3%3.9–4.7
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults23.7%20.9–26.6
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.3%8.9–12.0
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults8.4%7.2–9.8
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.2%7.1–9.4
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults5.9%5.3–6.7
Loneliness among adults30.2%26.6–34.0
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.7%5.0–6.5
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate0.8%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931
Uninsured 18–644.1%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2865.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931
No HS diploma (25+)6.5%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932
Bachelor's or higher (25+)10.1%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50520.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932
Unemployment rate (16+)0.6%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932
Households without a vehicle0.2%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931
Broadband subscription81.1%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)14.5%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931
Homeownership rate86.4%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32282.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.0%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931
Foreign-born population0.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932
Single-parent households65.6%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928
Population 65+22.1%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932
Median age43.1 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931
Median household income$94,904$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911
Median home value$192,100$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892
Median gross rent$475$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$825 ($614–$1,113) n=771
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth82.8 yr ± 0.9278.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30880.0 yr (77.2–83.4) n=917

About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 0.92 years of 82.8, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

More ZIPs to explore ▾

How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured